Award Winning Magazine Featured F-100 Pickup 460 V8 3 Speed Automatic PS A/C

1953 Ford F-100 Pickup Truck Description

SUMMARY

4-year $258K restoration completed in May of 2012
Winner of multiple national awards / Featured in Classic Trucks Magazine
460 cubic inch Cobra Jet crate engine
Art Carr C6 3-speed automatic transmission / 2,400 RPM stall converter
Custom leather interior / Vintage Air conditioning / Kenwood audio
Sale includes three binders and a small filing cabinet of build documentation
Ford 9-inch axle / Truetrac limited-slip differential / 3.25 gears
Upgraded frame / TCI suspension
Power rack-and-pinion steering / Wilwood 4-wheel power disc brakes / Coys wheels
Modified body / PPG Deltron 2000 paint / Custom hand-painted graphics

Few vehicles are as quintessentially American as the truck. And in the truck world, few names carry as much weight as Ford. Despite rising costs Ford truck enthusiasts are some of the most loyal buyers in the market, making good use of their favorite models as workhorses, show queens and everything in between. In fact, just this week Ford introduced their newest F-150 Limited, an offering that's expected to retail just south of $70K. That comes as no surprise when one realizes that, despite an ever-evolving automotive landscape, trucks simply never lose their appeal. And with that in mind, it should come as no surprise that the market for classic trucks is absolutely exploding. This world-class custom, a truck that won Best in Show at the F100 Super Nationals on its first outing, is the direct result of what happens when talented builders follow an acute plan that's founded on unique details and top-notch workmanship. Looking for a classic that's guaranteed to make you weak in the knees? Take a long look at this sublime piece of Blue Oval artistry!

BODYWORK/TRIM

Purchased for $9K as a solid resto-mod, this killer pickup benefitted from a 4-year, $258K restoration that was conducted by Coachworks of Louisa, Virginia. The project kicked off with complete disassembly and thorough media blasting. Once the truck was clean and ready to scuff, new rockers, fresh cab corners and custom running boards were welded between a pancaked hood that was cut 2.5 inches and fat rear fenders that were widened 3 inches. Once that tough fuselage was test-fitted, all factory welds were ground and smoothed in advance of prime and block sanding. After much deliberation, the meticulously worked body was decked in a vivid PPG Deltron 2000 base that reflects Wineberry Red under Vibrance Sunset Orange. That pigment was split with a Sterling Silver stripe, which, in turn, was highlighted with black pinstripes, hand-painted accents and custom brandings courtesy of Ed Webster. And eventually, everything was sealed, buffed and detailed under five layers of clear. In May of 2012, the truck rolled out of the paint booth to dominate the 730-truck F100 Super Nationals. And today, this classy hot rod is one sizzling showstopper that'll provide instant red carpet curb appeal!

Not surprisingly, this awesome Ford's first rate detailing highlights both straight lines and solid form. Up front, a smoothed grille hangs traditional, chrome-trimmed headlights above a painted and tucked bumper. Behind that grille, a forward-tilt hood snugs at smoked glass, which plants singled side windows between shaved drip rails, small stainless wipers and polished hot rod mirrors. At the sides of that hood, a flowing profile centers shaved doors in front of a tough Dan Carpenter bed that's outfitted with polished skid strips and gorgeous, double-urethane planks. Those planks are shielded by a Pro's Pick tonneau, which is raised and lowered via linear actuators. And at the back of the truck, a smoothed tailgate rides between a custom roll pan, a second painted and tucked bumper, and one-of-a-kind LED taillights that were designed by the truck's current owner.

ENGINE

What good is incredible beauty without incredible performance? Tilt the trick, BMW-hinged hood and you'll find 460 cubic inches of Cobra Jet crate engine that, according to factory specs, twists stout 10.5 to 1 compression into 500 horsepower and 495 lb./ft. of tire-melting torque! At the top of the block, a custom-painted air cleaner floats a reusable filter element above a coated Holley carburetor, polished stainless fuel lines and a small Holley pressure gauge. Below that carburetor, a coated Edelbrock Performer RPM intake bridges the gap between SVO Super Cobra Jet heads that hide a Jon Kaase port design under custom-painted aluminum valve covers. At the front of that intake, a Ford Duraspark distributor translates hydraulic cam timing into sequential fire that's provided by MSD 6AL ignition, a Master Blaster coil and MSD Super Conductor plug wires. Exhaust from that fire travels through ceramic-coated Sanderson headers. At the front of those headers, Concept One pulleys spin a polished Powermaster alternator between a painted water pump and polished power steering pump. And in front of those ancillaries, an aluminum cross-flow radiator, which rides behind a stainless shroud and two large puller fans, provides plenty of cooling capacity. The head-turning powerplant is extremely appealing, with pretty much every surface painted, polished or coated. And the truck's color-keyed engine bay is brimming with well-planned details, like trick dipsticks, upgraded hoses, polished fluid reservoirs, and a smoothed and modified firewall.

DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION

When this Ford's owner found his flagship project, he learned that the truck's undercarriage had already been reinforced in preparation for a very strong powertrain. The seller's original goal was to create a serious drag strip contender, and the truck's current owner knew that he could leverage his mechanical engineering expertise to create something really special. Head bottom-side and you'll find a boxed and C-notched frame that centers gorgeous, color-keyed floors on a beefy X-member, custom driveshaft hoops and a custom transmission crossmember. Behind the 460, an Art Carr-modified C6 utilizes a 2,400 RPM stall to twist a lightweight aluminum driveshaft. At the end of that driveshaft, a proven Ford 9-inch spins a Truetrac limited-slip differential around 3.25 gears and tough, 31-spline axles. That first rate drivetrain rolls on a full TCI suspension, which mixes an array of stainless components with 2-inch drop spindles, thick sway bars and high quality Aldan coil-overs. That modern suspension is augmented with power rack-and-pinion steering, which was donated by a 1982 Ford Thunderbird. Braking is equally class, with a boosted, floor-mount master cylinder making excellent use of 11-inch rotors, full stainless plumbing and polished Wilwood calipers. The aforementioned headers dump spent gases in to ceramic-coated pipes, which follow ceramic-coated Flowmaster 40 Series mufflers with quad-outlet tips. There's a 20-gallon fuel tank that's cinched to a Holley HP 150 pump and second Holley pressure gauge. Detail items, like a polished battery box, a B&M transmission pan, a Wilwood proportioning valve and a Specialty Auto Tech transmission cooler, ensure function matches form. And power meets the pavement through chrome Coys wheels, which twist 235/55R17 Hankook Ventus AS in front of 275/55R18 Hankook Ventus AS.

INTERIOR

Installed by Montrose Upholstery of Richmond, Virginia, this F100's custom interior is an exercise in style and solitude. For starters, the cockpit was thoroughly coated in LizardSkin and wrapped in four layers of insulation that dissipate everything from heat to road noise. Front and center, an extended, body-matched dash frames simple Classic Instruments telemetry in a custom billet instrument panel. Opposite that dash, power Toyota Camry buckets stretch themed leather under high quality Julianos harnesses. Between those seats, a custom console centers a B&M Quick Silver shifter between a modern Kenwood head unit, lighted controls for the truck's Vintage Air climate system and a hidden 10-disc CD changer. At the bottom of that wood console, premium carpet frames a hidden storage compartment, piped and color-keyed mats and snazzy Lokar foot pedals. At the edges of that carpet, bold door panels integrate polished handles in front of power-operated windows. And the driver stays connected to the road through a tilting Ididit column that spins a sweet Billet Specialties Stiletto wheel.

AWARDS/FEATURES

Best in Show at the 2012 F100 Super Nationals in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Editor's Award at the 2012 F100 Super Nationals in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Best in Class at the 2012 F100 Super Nationals in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Best Builder's Award at the 2012 F100 Super Nationals in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Featured in the March, 2013 edition of Classic Trucks Magazine

DOCUMENTATION/ACCESSORIES

Since this Ford's creator is an impeccably organized engineer, the truck's provenance is very impressive. Our sale includes a small filing cabinet and three large binders that house the following information:

A copy of the trade paper sales ad placed by the previous owner
A stack of build photos
Comprehensive build notes
Detailed build receipts
Component manuals
A model of finishing materials used in the truck's cab
A copy of the aforementioned Classic Trucks feature
A few spare parts
A remote for the truck's Kenwood CD player
An embroidered baseball cap
A silk-screened T-shirt

This head turning half-ton is the direct result of big dreams, careful planning and skillful building. And if you're an opportunistic truck fan, it's the perfect way to turn lofty goals into proud achievements. Don't miss the chance to own a super cool custom that can be proudly shown anywhere!